Automatic umbrella

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an automatic umbrella, which is comprised of an open mechanism, a central handle assembly, wherein said open mechanism is consisted of an upper rib nest, a low rib nest and proper number of ribs attached with restoring springs; said automatic umbrella also includes a ratio mechanism and a handle control device; said central handle assembly is consisted of a couple of inner and outer telescopic tubes connected together in socket joint, and an extension spring; said extension spring is located on the inside of said outer telescopic tube and the top end of said inner telescopic tube; said ratio mechanism set upon the inside of said central handle includes a movable block base, a standing block base, a stay wire and a stick with a catch head; said standing block base is retained on the upper end of said outer telescopic tube of said central handle nearing to said upper rib nest, said stay wire is fastened on said standing block base with one end, and another end is threaded crossly said movable and standing block bases sequentially, then fastened on said low rib nest of said open mechanism; said inner telescopic tube of said central handle assembly is retained on said handle control device with the bottom end, the catch head of said stick is controlled by said handle control device. By means of changing the relative distance between the movable block base and the standing block base, the sliding distance of said low rib nest on the central handle assembly can be obtained in several times than the change of the distance between the two block bases; cooperating to said restoring springs set on said ribs, and the set of said switcher of said handle control device, repeatedly press-down the button can perform to open and close umbrella functions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention is relative to an automatic umbrella in theumbrella field, and especially to an automatic open and close umbrella.

[0003] 2. Description of Prior Art

[0004] Umbrella is an indispensable tool often used in the people'sdaily life, there are many kinds of it, but so far, in the market, mostof them can be divided into telescopic and stiff handles two kinds,among of them, the conventional stiff handle umbrella shown in FIG. 1consists of an open mechanism 1′ and a central handle assembly 2′,wherein said open mechanism 1′ includes an upper rib nest 11′ and a lowrib nest 12′, and ribs 14 attached with springs 13′; in practicing, needone hand holds on the handle, another hand pushes said low rib nest 12′sliding up until the ribs are spread out thoroughly cooperating to thesprings 13′ to open the umbrella, but want to close it, have to need theboth hands act simultaneously, the umbrella just is retracted to theoriginal close state so that the user can be get into the car, but justonly this short period, the user maybe get wet in rain, so the facilityof the umbrella is loosed in this case.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The key object of the present invention is to provide anautomatic umbrella with an open and close mechanism by pressing down asame button repeatedly to perform open and close operation.

[0006] For archiving above-mentioned object, the present inventionprovides an automatic umbrella comprised of an open mechanism and acentral handle assembly, said open mechanism includes an upper and lowrib nests and a proper number of ribs attached with springs; wherein aratio mechanism and a handle control device are also included in saidopen mechanism; said central handle assembly consists of a couple ofinner and outer telescopic tubes and an extension spring located at theinside of the outer telescopic tube and on the tip end of the innertelescopic tube; said ratio mechanism combined into the inside of saidcentral handle assembly is consisted of a movable block base and astanding block base, a stay wire and a stick with a snap ring; saidstanding block base is retained on the tip end of the outer telescopictube of said central handle assembly approaching said upper rib nest,and holds one end of said stay wire, another end of said stay wire isled to cross said movable block base and said standing block basesequentially, then is fastened on said upper rib nest, said innertelescopic tube of said central handle assembly is retained on saidhandle control device with the bottom end, the catch head of said ratiomechanism is controlled by said handle control device.

[0007] Said handle control device typically includes a handle, a buttonassembly and a sleeve, wherein said handle has upward blind hole forputting said central handle assembly in at the top end, and a blockingportion at the upper, and a radial opening at the middle for placing abutton assembly in the hollow inner, and a restoring flap and an activeflaky lever are separately hung on the both ends of said opening by twopins, said restoring flap is backed up elastically by a restoring springat inner side, beside said restoring flap downward a slot is built uponfor setting a clasp frame, by a position block via a spring locating oneend of said clasp frame, cooperating to opposite said flaky levertouching against another end of said clasp frame, said clasp frame isset in place; said button assembly is consisted of a button and aswitcher, via a pin they are connected together, meanwhile a spring isset upon between said button and said switcher; said switcher has ahollow space set on the center for passing through said central handleassembly, coordinating to it, a catching notch is built on the properposition at the low portion of said outer telescopic tube; on the otherside, said switcher has a lug with a tilt extended coordinating to saidnotch of said outer telescopic tube; said button combined with saidswitcher is set into the hollow space of said radial opening,simultaneously cover on the upper portion of said restoring flap; saidsleeve is used for fitting said handle in, and has an U-shaped groovefor containing said button assembly.

[0008] Said clasp frame is a flat frame with a hollow space at thecenter and a lug extended at the inside.

[0009] Said movable block base and said standing block base of saidradio mechanism individually has two pulleys mounted on.

[0010] Said inner telescopic tube of said central handle assembly is fiton the tip end with a gag, meanwhile at the inner wall of said outertelescopic tube a inward flange is built on for stopping said extensionspring.

[0011] Said open mechanism has a restoring spring set upon the bottomend of said upper rib nest.

[0012] Applying above-described structure, due to employing a new ratiomechanism, in which said stay wire crassly threading said movable blockbase and said standing block base is finally fastened on said low ribnest, cooperating to the snap ring of said stick controlled by saidhandle control device, by means of changing the relative distancebetween the movable block base and the standing block base, the slidingdistance of said low rib nest on the central handle assembly can beobtained in several times than the change of the distance between thetwo block bases; cooperating to said restoring springs set on said ribs,switcher of said handle control device and the pushing forces exertingthe button by said restoring springs and said restoring flap, pressingdown said button can perform to push said switcher to release said outertelescopic tube so that the umbrella is open; due to the action of saidrestoring spring, and the contacting between the switcher and saidactive flaky lever in this time, when pressing the button down again,the catch head of said stick is released by pushing clasp frame to carryout closing function, therefore, repeatedly press-down the button in thepresent invention can facilitate to perform automatic open and closeumbrella function.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1 is a scheme of the prior art.

[0014]FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the handle control device ofthe present invention.

[0015]FIG. 3 is a solid view showing the ratio mechanism of the presentinvention.

[0016]FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the close state of the presentinvention.

[0017]FIG. 4A is a part enlarged view of FIG. 4.

[0018]FIG. 5 is a scheme showing the appearance of closing state of thepresent invention.

[0019]FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the open action of the presentinvention (1).

[0020]FIG. 7 is a cross-section view showing opening action of thepresent invention (2).

[0021]FIG. 8 is a scheme showing the appearance of opened umbrella ofthe present invention.

[0022]FIG. 9 is a cross-section view showing closing action of thepresent invention.

[0023]FIG. 10 is a solid view showing the appearance of closed umbrellaof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Referring to FIG. 2 to FIG. 10, the present invention iscomprised of an open mechanism 1, a central handle assembly 2, a ratiomechanism 3 and a handle control device 4, wherein said open mechanism 1is comprised of an upper rib nest 11, a low rib nest 12 and propernumber of ribs 14 attached with restoring springs 13;

[0025] Said central handle assembly 2 is consisted of a couple of innerand outer telescopic tubes 21 and 22 connected together in socket joint,and an extension spring 23, and a gag 24 fit on the tip end of saidinner telescopic tube 21, said extension spring 23 is located on the topside of said gag 24, said outer telescopic tube 22 has an inward flange221 built upon the inside wall for locating said extension spring 23cooperating the gag 24;

[0026] Referring to FIG. 3 in following, a ratio mechanism 3 set on theinside of portion 2 of said central handle assembly 2 is comprised of amovable block base 31, a standing block base 32, a stay wire 33 and astick 34 with catch head 35; said movable block base 31 and saidstanding block base 32 individually has two pulleys 311 312 and 321 322mounted on, said standing block base 32 is retained on the upper end ofsaid outer telescopic tube 22 of said central handle approaching to saidupper rib nest 11, said stay wire 33 is fastened on said standing blockbase 32 with one end, and another end is threaded crossly said pulleys311 321 312 322 of said movable and standing block bases 31 and 32sequentially, then fastened on said low rib nest 12 of said openmechanism 1; said inner telescopic tube of said central handle assembly2 is retained on said handle control device 4 with the bottom end, thecatch head 35 of said stick 34 is controlled by said handle controldevice 4;

[0027] Referring to FIG. 2, said handle control device 4 typicallyincludes a handle 41, a button assembly 42 and a sleeve 43, wherein saidhandle 41 has upward blind hole 411 for putting the portion 1 of saidcentral handle assembly 2 in at the top end, and a blocking portion 412at the upper, and next a radial opening 413 at the middle for placing abutton assembly 42 in the hollow inner, and a restoring flap 414 and anactive flaky lever 415 are separately hung on the both ends of saidopening 413 by two pins X, said restoring flap 414 is backed upelastically by a restoring spring 4141 at inner side, beside saidrestoring flap 414 downward a slot 417 is built upon for setting a claspframe 416, said clasp frame 416 is a flat frame with a hollow space atthe center and a lug 4161 extended at the inside; by a position block419 via a spring 418 locating one end, cooperating to opposite saidflaky lever 415 touching against another end, said clasp frame 416 isset in place; said button assembly 42 is consisted of a button 421 and aswitcher 422, via a pin X they are connected together, meanwhile aspring 423 is set upon between said button 421 and said switcher 422;said switcher 422 has a hollow space 4221 on the center for passingthrough the portion 1 of said central handle assembly 1, said button 421combined with said switcher 422 is set into the hollow space of saidradial opening 413, and simultaneously cover on the upper portion ofsaid restoring flap 414; coordinating to said switcher 422, a catchingnotch 222 is built on the proper position at the low portion of saidouter telescopic tube 22; on the other side, said switcher 422 has a lug4222 with a tilt extended coordinating to said notch 222 of said outertelescopic tube 22. Said sleeve 43 is used for fitting said handle 421in, and has an U-shaped groove 431 for containing said button assembly42, and said inner telescopic tube 21 is retained on said sleeve 43 withthe bottom end.

[0028] In combination, referring to FIGS. 4, 4A and FIG. 5, firstlysequentially said restoring spring 4141, said restoring flap 414 andsaid active flaky lever 415 are separately mounted on said handle 41with said pins X, said clasp frame 416 and spring 418 is located on saidhandle 41 by said position block 419; next said button assembly 42 isinstalled into the inside of said handle 41; then said inner telescopictube 21 of said central handle assembly 2 is retained on said handlecontrol device 4, meanwhile said outer telescopic tube 22 is put intothe inside of said blind hole 411 of said handle 41 so that said lug4222 with a tilt of said switcher 422 latches into said notch 222 ofsaid outer telescopic tube 22; and said catch head 35 of said ratiomechanism 3 is locked by said clasp frame 416. Because said extensionspring 23 in the portion 2 of said central handle assembly 2 is pressedby the inward flange 221 in this time, said outer telescopic tube 22 isexerted on a elastic restoring force of said extension spring 221, butsaid blocking portion 412 is still to keep said switcher 422 in place,meanwhile said restoring spring 423 located in said button assembly 42is in compression state.

[0029] When trying to open the umbrella of the present invention, asshown in FIG. 6 to FIG. 8, pressing down said button 421 is to push saidswitcher 422 to move rightward simultaneously so that said outertelescopic tube 22 is released, under the restoring force of saidextension spring 23 said outer telescopic tube 22 is driven to slideupward to carry over said standing block base 32 moving upwardsimultaneously, because said catch head 35 is locked by said clasp frame416 of said handle control device 4, the distance between said standingand movable block bases 32 and 31 is increased, due to four pulleys seton, so cooperating to the extension of said springs 13 attached on saidribs 14, said stay wire 33 drags said low rib nest 12 upward to slidefour times length than the change distance between said both block basesto push said ribs 14 to open the cover; in this time, said restoringspring 4141 of the handle control device 4 is in compression state,under the action of said restoring force of said restoring spring 4141the restoring flap 414 is pushed leftward, further to bring said button421 to the original state.

[0030] When trying to close the present invention, said button 421 is inthe normal state—un-pressed, said switcher 422 is pushed by saidrestoring spring 423 releasing the restoring energy to turn an anglearound said pin X downward to contact with said active flaky lever 415,as closing said umbrella, as shown in FIG. 9, press down said button 421to simultaneously push said switcher 422 to move rightward so as to pushsaid active flaky lever 415, by means of the action of lever 415 basedon the lever principle, said clasp frame 416 is pushed leftward by thelow portion of said active flaky lever 415 so that said catch head 35locked by said lug 4161 is released by said lug 4161 to free, further tomove said movable block base 31 relatively to said standing block base32 closely, and simultaneously said stay wire 33 is drew out by said lowrib nest 12, said umbrella is acted by said restoring springs 13attached on said ribs 14 of said open mechanism 1 into closing state,then by the extra force of hand exerting on said handle control device4, said outer telescopic tube 22 of said central handle assembly 2 islocked on said switcher 422 by latching on said notch 222 with saidtitle lug 4222 so that said umbrella is closed completely, as shown inFIG. 5.

[0031] For facilitating to low rib nest 12 sliding down, a restoringspring 15 is set upon the bottom side of said upper rib nest 11(referring to FIG. 5).

I claim:
 1. An automatic umbrella, comprised of an open mechanism, acentral handle assembly, wherein said open mechanism is consisted of anupper rib nest, a low rib nest and proper number of ribs attached withrestoring springs; said automatic umbrella also includes a ratiomechanism and a handle control device; said central handle assembly isconsisted of a couple of inner and outer telescopic tubes connectedtogether in socket joint, and an extension spring; said extension springis located on the inside of said outer telescopic tube and the top endof said inner telescopic tube; said ratio mechanism set upon the insideof said central handle includes a movable block base, a standing blockbase, a stay wire and a stick with a catch head; said standing blockbase is retained on the upper end of said outer telescopic tube of saidcentral handle nearing to said upper rib nest, said stay wire isfastened on said standing block base with one end, and another end isthreaded crossly said movable and standing block bases sequentially,then fastened on said low rib nest of said open mechanism; said innertelescopic tube of said central handle assembly is retained on saidhandle control device with the bottom end, the catch head of said stickis controlled by said handle control device.
 2. An automatic umbrella asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said handle control device typicallyincludes a handle, a button assembly and a sleeve, wherein said handlehas upward blind hole for putting the portion of said central handleassembly in at the top end, and a blocking portion at the upper, andnext a radial opening at the middle for placing a button assembly in thehollow inner, and a restoring flap and an active flaky lever areseparately hung on the both ends of said opening by two pins, saidrestoring flap is backed up elastically by a restoring spring at innerside, beside said restoring flap downward a slot is built upon forsetting a clasp frame; by a position block via a spring locating oneend, cooperating to opposite said flaky lever touching against anotherend, said clasp frame is set in place; said button assembly is consistedof a button and a switcher, via a pin they are connected together,meanwhile a spring is set upon between said button and said switcher;said switcher has a hollow space on the center for passing through theportion of said central handle assembly, coordinating to said switcher,a catching notch is built on the proper position at the low portion ofsaid outer telescopic tube; on the other side, said switcher has a lugwith a tilt extended coordinating to said notch of said outer telescopictube; said button combined with said switcher is set into the hollowspace of said radial opening, and simultaneously cover on the upperportion of said restoring flap; said sleeve is used for fitting saidhandle in, and has an U-shaped groove.
 3. An automatic umbrella asclaimed in claim 2, wherein, said clasp frame is a flat frame with ahollow space at the center and a lug extended at the inside.
 4. Anautomatic umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein said movable blockbase and said standing block base individually has two pulleys mountedon.
 5. An automatic umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein said innertelescopic tube is attached a gag on the tip end, and said outertelescopic tube has an inward flange built on the inside wall forblocking said extension spring.
 6. An automatic umbrella as claimed inclaim 1, wherein a restoring spring is set upon the bottom side of saidupper rib nest of said open mechanism.